NFA World: Art students tour Lyme Academy

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The Bulletin

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Posted Nov. 30, 2013 at 4:20 PM
Updated Nov 30, 2013 at 4:20 PM

Posted Nov. 30, 2013 at 4:20 PM

Art teacher Stephanie Chew’s 11th- and 12th-grade fine arts painting and figure-drawing students spent the day at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts last week, touring the campus and viewing the Tim O’Brien exhibition. Students then participated in two one-hour group figure-drawing workshops, rendering from live models. A Lyme College drawing professor worked with 11th-graders in one session, while an admissions counselor worked with the seniors. After lunch, students toured dorms and had portfolio review sessions with admissions personnel. The day was a great opportunity for students to experience firsthand a post-secondary art school.

Head of School David Klein, Director of Student Affairs John Iovino, English teacher Patrick Kirker and Sachem Campus school counselor and administrative intern Jessica Vocatura assisted at last week’s Otis Library’s O’Tis a Festival. Among the many NFA faculty and staff were present at the event to shop and enjoy the fellowship. Klein, Iovino, and St. George were celebrity greeters on the street directing the public to parking. For the third consecutive year, ninth-grade English teacher Pat Kirker provided musical entertainment, always a much-loved part of the event.

ASVAB test

Since 1968 about 40 million students have taken the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery nationally. Two weeks ago, about 50 NFA seniors took the test. A multi-aptitude group of 8 sub tests, the assessment measures abilities in general science, arithmetic reasoning, word knowledge, paragraph comprehension, mathematics knowledge, electronics information, auto and shop information and mechanical comprehension. Students also take an interest inventory, and work with Kathleen Matthews of NFA’s Career Resource Center, their school counselors and representatives from the ASVAB Career Exploration Program to begin career planning. Test scores allow them to coordinate their interests and abilities with more than 400 civilian and military occupations.

Students are under no obligation to join the military as a result of taking the ASVAB; many students take it to explore military and civilian occupation options.

Project ELF

Again this year, the National Spanish Honor Society is working with the Connecticut National Guard in a special program to benefit children of military families from Connecticut whose parents are now deployed or who are about to be deployed to Afghanistan before the holidays. Officers seniors Julia Morales and Moira Lewerk and uppers Enita Liang and Erica Sanders and members are collecting new unwrapped toys through the National Guard’s ELF Program for children,up to 18 years old. Toys will be distributed at a special celebration on Dec. 16.

Page 2 of 2 - Donations will be accepted until Dec. 10. Contact Spanish teacher and adviser Ellen DeLeon at deleone@nfaschool.org, or drop off at the Visitor Check-In Station at the main (south) entrance on Crescent Street.

Shopping

Take the opportunity to holiday shop at NFA.

The Cat Shack, in the Converse Building, is open special hours through this month to accommodate Wildcat and community shoppers. Purchase NFA apparel and spirit items from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 7; 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 12; and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 18.

The Museum Gift Shop, at the Slater entrance and accessible by elevator via the Atrium, features modestly priced art and craftwork by local and regional artists, including Steinhagen Pottery, Chili-Bob Whatley’s hand-crafted candles and Karen Rossi’s mobiles, several jewelry collections, books about art, Norwich and Slater related topics, miniature cast reproductions, original and reproduction artwork, cards and postcards. Also featured are fragrances, specialty soaps, accessories and other free-trade items, and children’s games, puzzles, and books. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. weekends.

Latham Library is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 7.

Final thought: Michael Carr tells us, “All kids are gifted. Some just open their packages earlier than others.”

Geoff Serra is director of communications and public affairs at NFA. Reach him at serrag@nfaschool.org. Follow NFA on Twitter at #nfaschool or on Facebook at facebook.com/nfaschool.